Philadelphia's July 4th Celebration Features 50 Free Events

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA 2017 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 50 FREE EVENTS CELEBRATING

THE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE DAY, JUNE 29 – JULY 4, 2017

New Events, Time Honored Traditions and a Few Surprises for 2017

The Honorable James F. Kenney, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and Welcome America, Inc. today announced 50 free events that will create the 2017 Wawa Welcome America six-day festival Thursday, June 29 through Tuesday, July 4. The Wawa Welcome America festival celebrates American history, education and Philadelphia. The 2017 festival will encompass free, patriotic events throughout the City and concludes with 12 hours of non-stop commemorations and celebrations on July 4th. The theme of this year’s 25th Anniversary Wawa Welcome America is “Everyone is a History Maker.”

Every day of the festival, there will be a Philadelphia museum open to all for free and simultaneous free events all around town for all ages designed with wide-appeal: families, the 21+ Millennial crowd, multicultural, multigenerational, and all are inclusive and open to all. Events include free major concerts, block parties, art exhibitions, movie screenings, and educational events.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 29 at noon at Independence Mall in Philadelphia’s Historic District with the annual Wawa Hoagie Day honoring U.S. troops and concludes on July 4 with the most patriotic events right where it all began at Independence National Historical Park plus the Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert and Fireworks starring Mary J. Blige and The Philly POPS® BIG Band on the stage in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert will honor Philadelphia hometown icons Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time with an astounding 64 million albums sold.

The festival schedule has not-to-be-missed events and they are all FREE.  A festival schedule and event details can be found at the brand new WelcomeAmerica.com.  Festival brochures can be found at local Wawa stores in five states – PA, NJ, DE, MD and VA. Downloadable festival guides are available at NBCPhiladelphia.com. Festival guides in Spanish can be found at both WelcomeAmerica.com and  Telemundo62.com. Wawa Welcome America offers hotel packages and travel offers at WelcomeAmerica.com. Another great comprehensive travel resource for planning a trip is VisitPhilly.com.

Wawa Welcome America 2017 festival highlights:

A BIG KICK-OFF TO THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

It all starts with Wawa Hoagie Day – Kicking off the festival on Thursday, June 29 at noon at the National Constitution Center at Independence Mall is the crowd-favorite Wawa Hoagie Day. The 25^th annual Wawa Hoagie Day honors U.S. troops. Witness a 6-ton hoagie salute, enjoy free Wawa hoagies, a performance by the USO Show Troupe, and a hoagie building competition of enormous proportions between police and firefighters. In addition, the National Constitution Center is open for free courtesy of Wawa. Thursday, June 29 from 12 – 2 p.m.

Wawa Welcome America Debut! Culture on Tap presented by the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture and Parks & Recreation that together developed a pop-up beer garden with cultural entertainment in City Hall’s Courtyard. Culture on Tap is Philadelphia’s highly popular mobile beer garden. Thursday, June 29 from 4 – 9 p.m.

Wawa Welcome America Debut! Food Trust's Night Market Spruce Hill: Independence Day Weekend Edition at 40th & Walnut Streets will offer a unique family-friendly culinary experience with street eats, live music and neighborhood pride. This is the Food Trust’s debut in West Philadelphia. Thursday, June 29 from 6 – 10 p.m.

NEW EVENTS FESTIVAL-WIDE

More Fireworks! Four Fireworks Shows including two July 4^th Shows around 9:30 p.m. on the Delaware River and at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Schuylkill River – Three fireworks shows, presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico, will paint Philadelphia’s skies red, white and blue. In 2016, USA Today named Philadelphia’s Wawa Welcome America Fireworks on their list of “10 of the nation’s Best 4^th of July Fireworks Shows.”

• Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico will take place over the Delaware River Waterfront. Official viewing areas include the Delaware River Waterfront, SugarHouse Casino, and One Liberty Observation Deck. Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1 at 9:30 p.m.
• The grand finale includes two simultaneous shows, the Wawa Welcome America Fireworks presented by NBCUniversal and Pyrotecnico over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the Schuylkill River partners with The Freedom Festival Fireworks at Wiggins Park over the Delaware River Waterfront sponsored by the Camden County Chosen Board of Freeholders. Official viewing areas include the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Schuylkill River, the Delaware River Waterfront, SugarHouse Casino, and One Liberty Observation Deck.  Tuesday, July 4 at 9:30 p.m.

New! Events for Millennials 21+

SugarHouse Casino’s Red, White & Brew will feature an evening of great food, drinks, and entertainment by Mo Lowda and the Humble along the Delaware River Waterfront. Following the food and music, attendees can enjoy the spectacular fireworks show as SugarHouse Casino is an official viewing area for fireworks. Saturday, July 1 from 5 – 9 p.m.

New! Red, White and Blue Happy Hours & Brunches – A new version of the previous Wawa Welcome America event called “Taste of Philadelphia” returns in a brand new format of Fourth of July themed happy hours and brunches with food, crafty cocktails, and live entertainment at individual restaurants.  Participating restaurants include: Moshulu, Art Bar | Sonesta, City Tap House Logan, Cafe Cret, Midtown Continental. For a complete list of restaurants and bars, visit WelcomeAmerica.com.

• Friday, June 29 from 4 – 7 p.m. kick off the holiday weekend at a featured happy hour location for the chance to grab some July 4th swag and enter to win two tickets for a VIP experience at the Wawa Welcome America July 4th Concert and Fireworks. Visit  WelcomeAmerica.com for a complete list of happy hour locations.
• Sunday, July 2 enjoy a Red, White and Brunch at featured Philly favorite brunch spots. Visit WelcomeAmerica.com for a complete list of brunch locations.

New! The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Independence Weekend Salute to Musical Theater at Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party on July 3 on the Freedom Stage – For the first time during Wawa Welcome America, Broadway shows will be performed in Philadelphia’s Historic District. The star-studded lineup gives audiences a sneak peek at the 2017-2018 Broadway Philadelphia season featuring performances from some of Broadway’s hottest shows coming straight to Philadelphia. Monday, July 3. Time TBD.

New Twist!  A Wawa Welcome America Favorite Returns, the Sand Sculpture Spectacular – 2017 will see the return of the art of sand sculpting. Beginning June 20, world-renowned sculptors will transform the Rotunda at The Shops at Liberty Place into a Sand Sculpture Spectacular with hand-carved scenes depicting Philadelphia icons and historic figures out of 24 tons of sand. Attendees can also see a pop-up sculpture in the neighboring One Liberty Observation Deck. Debuts June 20 through the month of July.

New Events in More Philadelphia Neighborhoods Presented by Wells Fargo and produced by The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and Wawa Welcome America – Citywide Community Day Performances in Public Spaces, will showcase ten performers in ten different neighborhoods across Philadelphia as well as a fun activity for attendees to enjoy. Performances are FREE and family friendly ranging from hip hop dancing, jazz, capoeira, and storytelling performed in historic homes, public parks and squares, and plazas that are in the heart of these communities. Saturday, July 1. Times vary.

WAWA WELCOME AMERICA TRADITIONS

PECO GO 4^th & Learn – Wawa Welcome America is about engaging children throughout Philadelphia with educational activities, to encourage learning while school is out for the summer. Courtesy of Books In Homes USA, 9,000 free books will be provided to children. Beneficial Bank and Beneficial Foundation games and activities on financial literacy will travel to all events, and additional free giveaways will be provided for kids to enjoy. Go 4^th & Learn’s fun educational interactive activities and demonstrations highlight American history, financial literacy, STEM, Spanish language, fitness & health, and arts & culture at the Mummers Museum, Fairhill Square, and the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Free Museum Days – Five days of free admission to ten museums including the National Constitution Center (courtesy of Wawa), the Penn Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (evening), the African American Museum in Philadelphia, One Liberty Observation Deck (morning), Philadelphia Museum of Art (pay what you wish), The Barnes Foundation (courtesy of PECO), the National Liberty Museum, the Philadelphia History Museum, and The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University.

Philly @ The Movies presented by St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children – When the sun goes down, the screens go up for free movies under the stars. Three free outdoor movie screenings will take place at The Piazza at Schmidt’s, the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Franklin Square.

Free Concerts – The highlight of every Wawa Welcome America festival is all the free musical entertainment. This year’s concert lineup includes:

• Free family-friendly performances citywide including The Mummers Museums’ Summer Mummers Concert, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” June 29 – July 1 at 8 p.m. Various Locations.
• Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party on July 3 will feature three performance stages for artists to showcase their freedom of expression; the arts, music and speech. The Block Party will be followed by a performance by The Philly POPS in front of Independence Hall at a new time beginning at 7 p.m. Bring your picnic baskets and your friends.  Monday, July 3 from 12 – 8 p.m.

A BIG TUESDAY, JULY 4^TH TO CONCLUDE THE 25^TH ANNIVERSARY

Celebration of Freedom Ceremony – On the morning of July 4, The City of Philadelphia’s Office of the City Representative will present the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony at Independence Hall at 10 a.m. where Philadelphia’s music icons Boyz II Men will be honored for their achievements in music and philanthropy. The Philly POPS® BIG Band debuts. The Wawa Foundation will also present The Wawa Foundation Hero Award. The award is presented to a non-profit organization that is committed to serving the greater Philadelphia area. Financial grants of $80,000 will be awarded. Mayor Kenney will present the Magis Award to Philadelphia Hometown Hero Ralph Galati. Mr. Galati’s service has been honored with The Silver Star, The Bronze Star with Valor with one Oak Leaf Cluster, The Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Cluster, The Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster and The Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.  Tuesday, July 4 at 10 a.m.

Independence Day Parade – 4,000 marchers will parade through Historic Philadelphia during the patriotic Independence Day Parade. Tuesday, July 4 at 11 a.m.

All-Day Entertainment and Commemorative Events – Enjoy FREE entertainment on Independence Mall while exploring Philadelphia’s Historic District.

• Join Independence National Historical Park for its annual Let Freedom Ring Ceremony which begins at 1 p.m. behind Independence Hall followed by a Bell Tapping Ceremony at 

1:45 p.m. at the Liberty Bell Center (plan to be in line by 1 p.m.).

• 6th Annual Birthday Party at the Independence Visitor Center hosted by Betsy Ross and Termini Bros. Bakery – A spectacular five-tier cake will be decorated and 2,500 cupcakes displayed in the shape of an American flag at the Visitor Center throughout the morning starting at 9 a.m. The birthday celebration begins at 1 p.m. when Betsy Ross will lead the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday.” Stop by after the parade for a slice of cake. First come, first served.
• On July 4, the Betsy Ross House hosts a Children’s Naturalization Ceremony. Sponsored by the Flag House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, witness 13 children take the Oath of Citizenship in this moving ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

THE PARTY ON THE PARKWAY

Enjoy five blocks of FREE entertainment, food and fun for all ages July 4 from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at Party on the Parkway.  Families can enjoy an interactive kid’s area featuring the Strider Bikes obstacle course, Zipline, games, and make-and-take arts and crafts. Animal lovers can bring their furry friends to enjoy the Amtrak Pet Friendly area. The 21+ crowd can kick back and relax in two beer gardens, and all can enjoy the diverse food and music from the Philly Groove stage.

LIVE NATION PHILADELPHIA PRODUCES THE JULY 4^TH CONCERT ON THE PARKWAY

• For the second year, KIDZ BOP Kids will perform the group’s only free live concert on July 4 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 1 p.m. on the main stage. Bring the kids!

• The Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert on Independence Day is free, open to the public and begins promptly at 7 p.m. (a new time). Celebrity performances on the iconic Benjamin Franklin Parkway will headline the non-stop live concert featuring food trucks, beer gardens and fun activities. Performers include:
  • Musical pioneer and “the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul,” Mary J. Blige, her only free concert in America during her “Strength of a Woman” tour.

• A ceremony honoring Philadelphia hometown icons Boyz II Men.

• The Philly POPS® BIG Band joined by Mandy Gonzalez from the Tony Award-winning hit musicals Hamilton, In the Heights and Wicked, and Billboard top 10 jazz singer, pianist and songwriter Tony DeSare. The POPS were the first performers at the very first free concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 1993.

THE POWER OF COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAL AND NBC10 & TELEMUNDO62

Through the combined assets of Comcast NBCUniversal, Philadelphians across the region will be able to experience the iconic celebration on television and online on NBC10, Telemundo62, Cozi TV, TCN, and TeleXitos. NBC10 will broadcast the Wawa Welcome America July 4^th Concert and Fireworks live during primetime in its entirety from 7 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4 and in Spanish on Telemundo62 from 7 to 8 p.m. The free concert will also be live streamed on NBCPhiladelphia.com and  Telemundo62.com.

SPONSORS MAKE IT ALL FREE!

2017 sponsors/partners of the festival include The City of Philadelphia, Wawa, Comcast NBCUniversal, Live Nation Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport, Visit Philadelphia, One Liberty Observation Deck, PECO, Wells Fargo, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Amtrak, Beneficial Bank, Beneficial Foundation, Pennsylvania Lottery, Pyrotecnico, The Schmidt’s Commons, The Shops at Liberty Place, Sonesta Philadelphia, Tastykake, Books In Homes USA, Aetna, Moshulu, Keystone Property Group, Old City District, Kindy’s, and Global Philadelphia. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, emailinformation@welcomeamerica.com for more information. 

About Welcome America, Inc.

Welcome America, Inc. is a 501c3, non-profit organization in public-private partnership with the City of Philadelphia. Welcome America, Inc.’s mission is to promote American history, education and Philadelphia. The organization seeks to enhance the resident and visitor experience through citywide events that provide an economic boost to the local economy. Moving forward, Welcome America, Inc. will produce and assist in the growth of select city events year-round that can increase awareness of Philadelphia as an event destination.

For more information, visit  www.WelcomeAmerica.com. Join the conversation at:

• Facebook – www.facebook.com/WawaWelcomeAmerica
• Twitter – www.twitter.com/July4thPhilly
• Instagram – www.instagram.com/July4thPhilly

Welcome America! Concert Lineup Puts Philadelphia On The National Map For The 4th

This year's Welcome America! concert is welcoming some of the hottest acts in the land, plus fireworks. (Welcome America)

JONATHAN TAKIFF, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER TAKIFFJ@PHILLYNEWS.COM, 215-854-5960

POSTED: Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 3:01 AM

THE WAWA Welcome America! Philly 4th of July Jam is billed "the largest free concert in America."
And for this Friday's go-round, with a stellar lineup that includes the Roots, Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, Ariana Grande and Vicci Martinez, maybe " . . . and coolest" should be added to the tout.
Even Billboard magazine, the music industry bible, praised our sonic spectacular last week in a feature that also took note of music-loving Mayor Michael Nutter's semisecret past as a club DJ. (He was Mix Master Mike, working the Impulse club for nine years, starting at age 19.)
In fact, this here July Jam lineup is so fresh that one of its hippest attractions - the soul/folk/hip-hop fusionaire Blacc - laughingly admitted to the Daily News, "I don't know who some of these other people [on the bill] are! But that's what's great about working a festival like this. You, and I, get exposed to all kinds of people we might not sample otherwise. It's a learning experience, a turn-on."

What will folks learn of Blacc in his short but sweet set backed by the Roots?

That this warmhearted, spirit-lifting, bilingual talent is like Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Sam Cooke, Ruben Blades and Common rolled into one. And, more to the moment, the voice and lyricist behind that enormously popular and weirdly original electro-folk-mashing "Wake Me Up," though the dance anthem's usually credited just to its Swedish producer/DJ, Avicii.

If you've been snoozin' this past year, "Wake Me Up" is the most requested tune ever on Spotify - streamed 250 million times. It's been No. 1 in 22 countries. And watched on YouTube close to 400 million times.

Blacc first emerged as an uplifting, conscious rapper in the duo Emanon, then "reluctantly" was persuaded to start singing by his record label. Good move. The guy has also scored with "The Man" (that genial muscle-flexer quoting Elton John's "Your Song") and the groovin' incantation "I Need a Dollar," popularized worldwide through the HBO series "How To Make It in America."

Best of the bashes

Trust us when we say that Blacc's July Jam showmates here are every bit as happening. In fact, we'd argue that Philly's getting a far more contemporary, edgy bill than either New York or Washington, D.C., will serve to their constituencies.

"Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" in New York City, airing 8 to 10 p.m. Friday on NBC10, leans young country with Hunter Hayes and Miranda Lambert, and goes old-school with Lionel Richie. Ariana Grande is also scheduled to pop up on that broadcast, though probably in prerecorded form.

Philadelphia gets her live.

"A Capitol Fourth," 8 to 9:30 p.m. on WHYY-TV 12, promises "patriotic and uplifting" solos from Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, Michael McDonald, Phillip Phillips, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans, Kelli O'Hara, Kendall Schmidt and the Muppets, working out with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Williams.

Your classic public-TV holiday music mix.

Changing of the guard

Philadelphia has been staging July Fourth birthday bashes under the "Welcome America!" banner since the early 1990s. Even longer under other names. Remember the Philadelphia Freedom Festival?

No matter the name - or the weather - these events typically attract 100,000-plus celebrants to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for free music and fireworks to follow. On perfect nights, the city claims attendance as large as 500,000.

Back in the Rendell and Street administration years, the talent booked for the city show by Electric Factory concerts was always respectable but rarely overwhelming, often featuring a patriotic warm-up by the Philly POPS, which this year gets its own show tomorrow at 8 p.m. on the steps of Independence Hall.

For headliners, Welcome America! would serve a well-seasoned, adult-friendly pop, rock or soul talent or two - artists with good brand recognition but often (how do we put this kindly?) past their superstar prime.

To this observer, the talent bookers weren't putting anybody out on the Parkway for free that they could push elsewhere at a ticketed event. Or so it seemed.

Nowadays, a more diverse crew (including Mayor Nutter and City Representative Desiree Peterkin Bell) puts in their two cents and presses the cause of musical relevancy to satisfy the younger demographics and sharpen the city's image.

Questlove of the Roots, plus the group's manager, Shawn Gee, and Live Nation's local chief, Geoff Gordon, now share duties as July Jam curators. Blacc allowed he's been on the Roots' radar screen "and friends with Quest" since performing with them on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" in 2011.

And for the last two years, VH1 has really helped heat the talent pool. Welcome America's national media partner is again carrying our big show live (8 to 11 p.m. Friday) on both VH1 and Palladia cable/satellite channels.

The event will be streamed on PhillyJam.VH1.com and the VH1 app, all with a different host - actor/comedian Marlon Wayans - than you'll find on the long-standing local WPVI-TV6 feed.

This year, shared a VH1 source, the music channel helped wrangle Sheeran, Blacc, Hudson and Grande for the Philly fest. How could the artists say no? Our July Fourth event is a great (and easy) giveback to the fans, and a smart promotional vehicle for musicians with summer tours and new albums to flog.

Easy come, easy go

"With the Roots as the house band, you don't have to bring in musicians or arrangements," said Blacc. "The guys just listen to your music and figure the stuff out in their heads. I get to pick three songs, and they'll come up with a fourth, a cover, that works for everybody."

Blacc also gets to shout out about his tour opening for kindred spirit Bruno Mars, which lands July 17 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden.

We're thinking that same ease and opportunity also coaxed red-hot, redheaded Brit Ed Sheeran on board to give Philly (and the world) a taste of his fine stuff. This folk fusionaire's new and sometimes ratcheted-up second album, "X" (pronounce it "multiply"), is a crafty and commercial charmer.

Produced in part by Pharrell Williams, the set's already No. 1 on iTunes worldwide and quite likely to lift Sheeran outside the sensitive singer-storyteller zone. One track could even break the guy country; others find him rapping like a champ. And not incidentally, Sheeran still has seats to sell for his Sept. 8 Wells Fargo Center show.

Girls talk

July Jam divas Minaj and Hudson need no introduction. Who's Martinez? A pleasant popster who almost went the distance (No. 3) on "The Voice," three years back.

The filly we're thinking will really shine is that former Nickelodeon teen star with the huge, four-octave voice - just-turned-21 Grande. While a strong wind could blow the waif over, Grande more than held her own in vocal might with Aretha Franklin, LaBelle, Jill Scott and Janelle Monae on a recent "Women of Soul" PBS special from the White House.

Hold onto your baseball hats.

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Wawa Welcome America! Philly 4th of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks, 20th Street to Eakins Oval, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, welcomeamerica.com.

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